The Westford Academy Student Council [STUCO] will be organizing a Fall Semi-Formal for all upperclassmen in the WA cafeteria on October 19 from 7-9 p.m. Students can expect STUCO to begin selling tickets online and during lunches on October 7. This will replace the Homecoming dance previously held at WA.
Although some details such as specific decorations, a DJ, and the layout for the cafeteria have not all been decided, STUCO has come up with a theme to spread the news and excite students: “A Night in Hollywood.”
“We discussed several potential themes as a council, taking inspiration from some other schools, as well as looking online at social media,” senior and STUCO President Rachel Haley said. “We were interested in incorporating a red carpet, so that helped us narrow it down a bit.”
This dance was formerly known to students as Homecoming but to Dean Betsy Murphy, the name did not make sense for the student body anymore.
When it comes to a high school or college, Homecoming is traditionally a weekend that involves graduated alums returning to their school for a few days. It involves a reunion, a football game, and a dance. According to Murphy, WA stopped doing this over 15 years ago, warranting a name change.
“When WA kids go to college they’ll understand that there’s a Homecoming weekend where everyone that went to that college is invited back,“ Murphy said. “I’ve been doing it for years at UNH [University of New Hampshire], so it’s just different what we do now.”
As the cafeteria only allows for a capacity of 600 people, only upperclassmen will be invited to attend. However, STUCO is hoping to put on a spring Semi-Formal for all underclassmen so everyone has a chance to feel included.
As for what students can look forward to, STUCO is putting work into the Semi-Formal this year to make it an energizing event that all students can enjoy.
“We are not fully done with the planning and organizing process yet, but we are looking to address some students’ concerns about last year’s dance to make this year’s a success,” Haley said. ” […] What has semi-formals stand out [in the past] and will also [help] this year is the energy that is brought to it by both STUCO and the students.”
